Asparagus plant named `Jersey Jewel`

ABSTRACT

An F 1  male asparagus hybrid which is moderately resistant to asparagus rust (puccinia asparagi), tolerant to root and crown rot (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi) as well as stem and crown rot (F. moniliforme), capable of producing high yields of high quality asparagus in many locations.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention herein set forth is an asparagus plant which is one of theproducts of an extremely detailed long continuing program of asparagusdevelopment, since it is a valuable plant commercially and thus lendsitself to expending effort and time in providing new and improved plantsfor commercial exploitation as well as desirable plants for home gardenuse.

As is well known, the primary method of producing asparagus ultimatelyis from seed which is the product of crossing male and female plants ofselected characteristics.

We have also established, by causing the new plant to be asexuallyreproduced by crown division at Rutgers University, and, that thecharacteristics come true and are repeated from generation togeneration.

The asparagus plant herein described in an F₁ asparagus hybrid resultingfrom the cross between the female plant `Donna` U.S. Plant Pat. No.5,652 and a male asparagus plant which we have named `Austin` furtherdenominated in our records as No. 50-2.

In the particular example of the plant herein described, it isdesignated in our records as No. 56×50-2, and in commercial use will beknown as "Jersey Jewel".

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This particular plant is valuable primarily because it is a goodcommercial producer of high quality spears for use in commerce andparticularly for the fresh market even though processors and homegardeners also can benefit from the supply of this particular plant.

As such the long continuing program which we have conducted has resultedin the selection of this particular plant for its ability to produce andit has indeed performed very well in certain locations where the climateis relatively dry and the growing season is long.

This is not true in all parts of the United States or other countries,but where those conditions prevail this plant is indeed a good andvaluable addition to known asparagus varieties.

The hybrid hereof has been, as stated, initially produced from seed butit has also at our direction been caused to be asexually reproduced andestablished that the characteristics thereof have been found to continuefrom generation to generation and thus are fixed, in our judgment.

As will be understood from data supplied herewith, the data forproduction of the asparagus plant herein, is selected from test growingof the plants in South Africa, an unusual basis for comparison, butnevertheless illustrative of the value of this particular plant.

Turning to a consideration of the drawing which is attached hereto, aswill be seen in FIG. 1, certain data of dimensions and positions ofbranches and other details are set forth and illustrating aspects of theplant by way of notation.

Additionally color data is supplied for the flowers and references madein that color data to the Munsell Color Limit Cascade and which color isillustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing as being representative and thebest way it can be shown in photographic reproduction processescurrently available.

The values to follow are expressed in centimeters unless otherwiseindicated. The number (1) indicates that the measurements presented weretaken from the largest stalk.

Stalk data:

Number of nodes below first branch (1).--27.

Number of cm from crown to first branch (1).--63.9.

Number of branches (1).--49.

Number cm between first and last branch (1).--123.4.

Internode length in cm between branches (1).--2.55.

Number of cladophyll nodes beyond last branch (1).--26.

Number of cm beyond last branch (1).--16.3.

Internode length in cm beyond last branch (1).--0.63.

Largest stalk diameter in mm.--14.0.

Mean diameter of three largest stalks in mm.--13.2.

Number of stalks.--9.

Stalk vigor index (No.×mean diameter²).--1,600.

Mature stalk color, bloom removed. Color No.*.--21-12.

Crown to first branch of highest headed stalk cm.--57.8.

Flower data:

Petal tip (yellow) Color No.*.--24-9.

Petal base (green) Color No.*.--24.12.

Flower length in mm.--5.78.

Flower width at midpoint in mm.--2.50.

Cladophyll data:

Number per node.--5.73.

Length in mm.--14.88.

Width in mm.--0.12.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Yield of asparagus at Donald Cook Farms,                                      Republic of South Africa..sup.z                                               Variety  1981    1982    1983  1984  1985  Total                              ______________________________________                                        Limbras  328      823     908  1066   949  4074                               V15X50-9 524      818     906  1200   872  4320                               Jersey Jewel                                                                           578     1715    1662  1810  1726  7491                               ______________________________________                                         .sup.z Planted in 1979                                                   

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Size and quality of asparagus spears - Donald                                 Cook Farms, Republic of South Africa..sup.z                                                 Spear weight                                                                             Grade No. 1                                          Variety       grams/spear                                                                              %                                                    ______________________________________                                        Limbras       10.1       14.0                                                 V15X50-9      12.6       47.9                                                 Jersey Jewel  11.5       31.3                                                 ______________________________________                                         .sup.z Planted in 1979. Data from 1985 harvest.                          

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct asparagus plant as shown and describedherein, characterized particularly as to novelty by its ability toproduce high quality asparagus spears for both commercial and freshmarket use, also being suitable for good production of spears in homegardens, the hybrid being particularly well adapted to certain regionswhere climate is relatively dry and the growing season is long, theplant being moderately resistant to some of the known asparagus problemsbut producing unusually high yields of the quality aforesaid.